Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said Turkey's European Union membership is a “strategic necessity” for the 27-nation bloc at a time when the international balance of power is shifting toward the East and Asia.

In his speech delivered during a dinner with his Austrian counterpart on May 2, Heinz Fischer, Gul said Turkey's membership in the EU will be “a historic and giant step if the bloc wants to become a political establishment with a say in affairs on a global scale.” He also called on Austria to show more solidarity and cooperation in this regard, adding that “the EU with Turkey as a member will be more powerful.”

Gul said that "nearly 220,000 ethnic Turks in Austria, who have recorded significant success in fields ranging from politics, arts and science to sports and business, make up a strong link between the two countries."

Gul concluded that he hopes his visit will contribute to the strengthening of mutual understanding and cooperation between Turkey and Austria.

Fischer said he welcomed improved relations between Turkey and Austria in the political and economic fields following his visit to Turkey in 2008. The Austrian President said 500,000 Austrian tourists visit Turkey every year.

Pointing out Turkey's membership in the UN Security Council last year, Fischer said Turkey "not only recorded significant economic growth but also widened its foreign policy activities in recent years," Sunday’s Zaman reported.